November 20, 2011

The 11 year old and I woke up bright and early this morning and headed down to Eastern University for the Girls on the Run 5K. This is our second one - it's the same event that we did in the spring.

We had quite a few repeat girls from our spring season, and a lot of new girls. It's been a fun season - I really enjoy coaching and getting to know the girls. It's fun to walk the halls at school and respond to calls of, "Hey Coach T!" It's made the school programs and other school events just that much more fun.

(We're missing at least five girls in this photo)

It was a little chilly waiting for the event to start, but perfect for running. I didn't time myself this time - and I know my time was down. I didn't stretch nearly enough and was feeling it. I also didn't get enough sleep the night before, having got caught up in a diy project at midnight. I'll share that tomorrow.

After our 5K, we were herded inside for afterhaps. We chose to stand in the balloon line. We got there just in time. Let me tell you - if you ever want to make a kid cry, just hold this sign. We were the bad news bearers. Big time. I felt like I was stealing candy from two year olds.

But hey, my kid got a cookie monster balloon hat, so neener neener.

We then skipped to the loo and headed home for lunch.

After lunch, and after I showered, we headed out to the Cider Mill with our houseguests to meet up with Uncle George and the girls. There were three vehicles in the parking lot. Ours, Georges, and somebody elses.

*Mmmmmmmmmm* Those doughnuts were yummy!

Did I mention we have houseguests? They've (my folks-in-laws) been in town for almost two weeks - they stayed at our house last night.

I love fall.

Victoria and her papa.

And don't 'poor Brian' on this one. He ASKED me to take this photo.

After the Cider Mill, we headed back to our place. We used a gift card we'd gotten last week and ordered up dinner from Tomato Bros. If you were ever wondering - the pan that says it feeds 10-12 people, it means it feeds them all twice.

Note that I took these last two shots from my hiding spot in the corner.

We wrapped up the night with a bunch of Finns laughing at good Finn humor on youtube.

November 12, 2011

As for what I did on 11/11 - I chocked it full of stuff. I was so tired that I couldn't even stay up to make another wish on the pm 11:11. Couldn't do it.

During the day I was busy running my preschooler back and forth, writing chalk messages on the sidewalks around our 5K route, sewing my Under Armour shirt seam that was well worth getting the $5 off for it, sewing the kitchen curtains once I had my sewing machine out, emptying my boy's little blue dresser and then emailing Darla to ask her if she wanted it, helped Darla load the little blue dresser into her car....

And then went up to school to run the 5K.

Here we have all the girls lined up to take attendance and go over the rules. We also did our warm-ups. You can probably tell by the way we are dressed - it was a little chilly out. I'm very curious what we'll have on the 20th for our real deal.

I decided to time myself just so I'd push myself a bit. Girls on the Run doesn't time their event as it's about just doing it and not competing. I compete with myself. When I ran the spring 5K in the crowds, I did that one in 39:01. Yesterday I did it in 40:29. I didn't think that was too bad considering I was in much better shape in the spring than I am right now.

My hip is not liking me today though - seems like I remember it bothering me in the spring too.

Anyway.

Wendy got to the finish before me, so I didn't get a picture of her running through - but I love the girl's expressions when they realize that they made it. It's such a fun program. I also ran with a camera on my back this time as I wanted to know if I'd be able to do it/bring it to our 20th 5K. Last season I brought my daughter's point and shoot and I kept wishing for my camera.

September 07, 2011

I've been in a funk the last couple weeks. Nothing specific, but every now and then I get into this funk where everything feels very day in and day out, repetitive. Laundry, refereeing the children, work, grocery shopping, dinner, pay the bills, sleep and repeat. Repetitive.

Blah.

Two years ago when things got very funk-like, I spontaneously booked a flight to Denver. That helped.

Some years I just fight through it in a pull up my bootstraps type of way.

This week?

I committed to coaching Girls on the Run again. Just last night. Very unplanned like. (I hadn't thought it would fit in our schedule this season with a now working teenager slash babysitter) Funny thing was - I didn't know it was going to pull me out of my funk, but instantly I have a bounce to my step. I'm writing lists in my head, working on getting things done, anxious for a busy schedule while being a bit nervous about already busy Tuesdays, and excited to lace up my running shoes again.

I enjoy coaching.

I just didn't realize that I enjoy it so much that it would de-funk me. Bonus!

May 22, 2011

Wendy and I woke up bright and early this morning. I was still feeling the aches and the exhaustedness from yesterday's wedding shoot - but I went through the drive-through, ordered a cup of coffee and tried to pull myself out of the haze I was in.

We got there early enough to enjoy some face painting and hair braiding, but goodness golly molly - the fumes from all that hairspray made me dizzy. It was like a cloud of chemicals.

And a sea of people. After gathering on the field and opening ceremonies, we headed towards the starting line (the balloons) alphabetically by school. Our school was near the end. It was SO crowded that there were actually times when it was impossible to run - the sea of people was too thick.

That being said, I ran as much as I could.

It's not a race, and they didn't want us treating it like one - but I wanted to know for myself, what goal to beat the next time. If I can run a 5K exhausted from a wedding, in a crowd of people so thick that running was sometimes impossible, and in 83 degree blazing sunshine - now I officially know that I can do better than 39 minutes the next time.

I like knowing that.

I lost Wendy right at the starting point. They had warned us that it happens frequently - and to not even try to run together but just go at your own pace. The path is well marked and well protected, so it was never a concern. Wendy was in front of me at the beginning so I was trying to catch up with her, and she ended up coming in behind me, yet neither of us ever saw the other. Lots of pony tails and everyone had a green shirt. It's a challenge.

There were a lot of people along the course to cheer us on, as well as a lot of friends and family in the stands.

I've now officially crossed 'run a 5K' off my bucket listI can't wait to do it again!

Happy Sunday!

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I brought my husband's small work camera instead of trying to figure out how to run with my big one. I'm a little bummed - the white balance is all off - but it did well enough to document the event.

March 06, 2011

And I've earned nearly enough Amazon gift cards with my Swagbucks to get one of these - as soon as I do, I'll use it to track our running miles. I would chart and graph everything in my life if I had the time.

By the way, I've biked 56.9 miles so far this week (I haven't biked today yet) and I just might be in a different state again. Who knows, right? I'll check tomorrow. Real life keeps me from being too compulsive.

Anyway.

I went for all day coaches training yesterday for the Girls on the Run program. There were a couple reasons I wanted to coach.

Because Wendy can be in it for free if I coach.

Because running a 5K has been on my to do list. I used to run track in school and loved it.

I wanted to make sure the whole program falls in line with what I believe. I'm a momma watch dog when it comes to my kids. Aren't we all?

There were five of us from our school - two teachers, and two others who were going for the same reasons I was. And me.

It's a cool program. I'm anxious to coach it through. It'll be a busy schedule around here for awhile, but the location is perfect, the time is right and the ending should be worth it.